TT120 HST Class 43 “Swallow” and executive coaches, full review.
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- Опубліковано 19 січ 2025
- Full Monty review of @HornbyModelRailways brand new TT 120 HST “Swallow” plus coaches, HM7000 install, Powerbank stay-alive fitting, @WestHillWagonWorks Hunt magnet tests, and a DC plus DCC running session. It’s all here!
Some of the Hornby products shown in this video can be purchased here;
Locos
TT3021M Class 43 HST125 prf.hn/l/G9aopg9
TT3022M Class 43 Inter City prf.hn/l/jXnYb0O
TT3022M Class 43 GWR prf.hn/l/mVRJBPd
Coaches
TT4027 BR intercity Mk3 42199 prf.hn/l/4PX39ye
TT4027a BR intercity Mk3 42198 prf.hn/l/9OpAqB1
TT4027b BR intercity Mk3 42197 prf.hn/l/kVqn3X2
TT4027c BR intercity Mk3 42196 prf.hn/l/NdneOvy
TT4028 BR intercity Mk3 44063 prf.hn/l/Vx8kydb
TT4029 BR intercity Mk3 41099 prf.hn/l/lQ9k5Le
TT4029a BR intercity Mk3 41100 prf.hn/l/bxmoOpn
TT4030 BR intercity Mk3 40711 prf.hn/l/p3qNzyJ
As Hornby affiliated associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
ive not had a train set in my adult (ish) life and been umming and ahhing about starting again since this scale was announced, i think this video just helped me decide.
I hope for rather than against? 🫣😀
@@PeachyTT120 definitely for :)
Looks amazing and a good tutorial! I’ve settled on steam and early diesel era so this has got me looking forward to those ! Great video as always, keep the positive vibes coming… a great antidote to certain UA-cam TT downers!
Cheers, 🍻 thanks for your kind words
These do look lovely and I remember the announcement to stand back from the platform as they sped through Ealing Broadway station without stopping in the 70s. Those were the days. Not my period for modelling but glad for those modern people who have been waiting patiently
Cheers Damian
Hi Chris, good video! I succumbed and it's hopefully on the way with coaches. First time for a HST as my area of interest is era 3 GWR, LMS. Since Hornby went for the Eastern region, TT 120 has given me an excuse to get the A1, A3's and Mallard. Also managed to get my brother back into model railways, after at least 20 years. Love the enthusiasm! regards Chris.
Excellent Chris, glad you’re enjoying it. 😀
They are gorgeous locos, thanks for the shout out Chris! And yes there is a whole bunch of space in the Dummies! 🤔💩
I could feel your mind ticking over as I opened the dummy!!!!🤣
Re. white lights.. left right is for night running and right for day running. They are different lamp designs in reality! However when first introduced they were both the same and the left side was to be used normally and the right as a “stand by” in case of failure. I can’t recall when the rule book changed to the current requirements. Of additional interest is that headlights are not to be used when in yards and sidings and should only be used when “moving on running lines”.
Thanks Gary
An interesting and informative vid. Good work and thanks!
I just received my power cars yesterday and the coaches are currently crossing la Manche (the Channel, for those who have forgotten their 'O level' French - that shows my age!).
For coupling, I shall be using TJ Modèles couplings, which come in 0.25 mm increments so I'm hoping for a good result on my 40cm radius curves (not sure what that equates to in R1, R2, etc.). If anyone's interested, TJ Modèles do ship to the UK.
If the 'original flava' HSTs are also coming in March, it's going to be an expensive month!
I totally agree - superb models!
Merci for your kind words, & yes I could do with the next train pack landing next month 🫣
@Michaelgoestofrance ....Do you have the link to the TT couplings at TJ Modeles please?
Comprehensive unboxing and review. You have gone over all the sallient facts concerning a sound enabled class 43 in TT scale. Thanks for uploading.
Cheers Allen. How’s your TT project coming along?
@@PeachyTT120 I have dismantled it because the track got all sticky and the loco wouldn't run! I took the track pieces to the kitchen sink and cleaned them all. I have got to re-assemble the track. I was rather disappointed with the coaches on my Easterner set because the wheels scrape the sole bars!
What a nice change from the clickbait fact lacking commentary. Nice review and fitting guide. Although I'm deep in the rabbit hole of German outline TT I haven't gone over to British yet, but the HST is really tempting me. In terms of accuracy the power cars actually surpass the OO models by having correct corridor connections. I do have a question which wasn't answered by this video - how closely do the carriages couple with the factory fitted couplings? I'm used to my German coaches being close coupled out of the box, but that wasn't the case with the mk1s.
Good question, the Hornby couplings are a little wider, but the gap for me is just a nicety, my main reason for swapping out to the Hunt Magnets is ease of use. They allow for much easier uncoupling when packing away (I’ve damaged the mechanisms on more than one mk1) and resolving de-railments.
Loving this model and a superb review!
A shot in the arm for TT - the detail is awesome.
Exciting times!
Absolutely Pete, I couldn’t agree more! 👍
I truly believe that OO and N scale UA-camrs are butthurt that the most accurate and true to scale HST is now available in TT. There seems to have being a large increase on attacks on TT by the large UA-cam channels in the last 4-6 weeks, your video is a refreshing change!
“Butthurt” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Nice video Chris. Looking forward to my 1977 blue version plus a few coaches (and the 50) arriving soon. I teally need to get on with a layout. I'm making do with a short length of straight on the mantelpiece that I run a few wagons and one of my 08s up and down at the moment!
Yes, me too, that first livery (in OO) was the first new model train I ever had…
Great review, what wonderful models! I am waiting for mine to arrive, I think I will convert them to conventional DCC. And I am looking to use current conducting couplers like with the Piko ICE3 set and interior lighting for the intermediate coaches. Maybe the dummy car might be useful for an extra accessories decoder for controlling the light in the coaches.
Excellent idea, do you have a link for those couplers?
I have the blue/grey HST on pre-order and have cancelled my pre-ordered Duchess & coaches and ordered the class 50 (blue) with four MkII coaches. not sure the credit card can take the punishment if they are all delivered at the same month!!!! Decided to model the 70s/80s instead of the late steam/early diesel era. The Willaim Whitelaw will be running the rails though.
Yeah budgeting is tough, I want them all of course but I’m drawing the line at BR/LNER
Your video made me go out and buy one it’s excellent. Just need to find chips cheap. Have a great weekend 😊 Roger
Cheers Roger 🍻
Excellent video. They do look really nice. Will definitely be getting an HST at some point, when my budget allows.
Cheers
The level of detail on these are amazing. I bought 4 Mk3 coaches which fits my 6x4 layout perfectly and doesn’t look out of place. I’m torn about getting the BR blue 125 but it would mean dropping either the LMS loco and coaches or the Class 50 with Mk2 BR blue coaches.
They are absolutely stunning.
Great video! An impressive-looking model - I can't wait for my sound-fitted blue one to arrive.
What is the total length for an 8-coach set? I guess it must be around 180cm (about 6 feet)? That length of train kind of blows the idea of "Table Top" out of the water! Still, it is fantastic for anyone lucky enough to have the space to run one. I will only be able to run a very short formation at best - but I still can't wait!
Can’t say that I’ve measured it yet, and with the extra 2 standard coaches arriving this morning (so I now have A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I & J for a full proper train) it’s even longer!
Tbh this train will be for my planned loft layout, but as you can see I’m behind on my Steam era Table top layout as it is!
Well done Chris, another enjoyable video. Great looking model.👍
Cheers Doug
Nice models and well presented by your good self. I was going to ask why the dummy car needed a decoder but I see that’s been answered bellow 🤦♂️
I do think there’s a case for using the cheaper non-sound version as the power car makes plenty of noise as it is.
Looking great - now wondering if I can get this duo and do a little rebody to add 3mm resin 101 DMU body to go with the steam outline.
Now there’s an idea Dash, an expensive one, but good. 😊
You could try 3smr they do motor bogies for 3 mm scale they are in the motor section ideal for Dmus like class 101.
Another great video Chris. I was debating ordering the BR Blue version, I will be now.
Excellent, if you do order, don’t forget the links in the description below, these really help the channel.
Will do.
Great review. I've got 2 Mk.3 coaches for track clearance testing. Even though my modelling will be mainly 50s/60s I would get HST i executive livery if it ever released.
I guess there’s so many liveries it could be age, but fingers crossed. 🤞
Thinking of getting the Era7 version, the stay alive does just plug in ? Another enjoyable video.
Absolutely, just plugs direct to the decoder
Thanks gor that. I wasn't going to bother but now I'm very tempted.
Go on Derek, you know you want to, and if you do, don’t forget to use the links in the description. 😉
Hi Chris.
We're your nameplates larger than the painted on version mine we're almost 00 scale ones.
Sorry, I don’t know. I think these things are over scale in thickness alone, so mine have stayed in the bag, in the original box, now in a suitcase in my loft 🤣🤣
What tablet do you use? I am looking at getting something to run HMDCC that isn't my phone. Considering a refurbished iPad 10, but perhaps a cheaper androind tablet will do. What do you use? Thanks
Mines an iPad Pro (I think? I need to ask the teenager to confirm) pretty sure some of the older iPads work just fine, as long as they can upload the latest versions of iOS
Somewhere on the Hornby website there is info on what’s required or you could ask the HM7000 Facebook group
Hi Peachy - forgive my inexperience with this question, but why does the dummy car need a decoder and stay alive? I was hoping to keep it simple that I'd be fitting one decoder and stay alive to the power car. Thanks John
Hello John , to operate the train you only need one decoder in the power car.
The stay alive is a cheap (when available) nicety which helps with smooth operation and Bluetooth connectivity if using the App.
Because Hornby have chosen to use the standard coupling system between the coaches rather than, for example an electrical connector coupling like in PIKO’s ICE3, there’s no other way to control lights & sound in the dummy other treating it as another separate loco.
BTW I’m not condoning it as a good idea, this is just an explanation of what Hornby has decided to do. (But not why)
Ps, I believe if you leave the blanking plate in place in the rear car, it will have running lights. But not switchable
John I just put a decoder in the drive unit and left the blanking plate in the dummy. It works but the dummy carriage shows permanent red lights.
@@Bigginger61 Thank you. Much appreciate it.
@@PeachyTT120 do i need to buy the sugar cube speaker with the HM7000 decoder - wondering which one decoder I buy? Thanks John
@@SlatsSSN21 hello John, the decoders come with a speaker. Here’s the one you need;
R7345 HM7000-N18TXS: Bluetooth® & DCC Sound Decoder (18-pin) prf.hn/l/vyAxVYM
Hi Chris, My HST with sound has been despatched today - YIPPEE!
Quick question - is it better to run in the locos together or separately?
I use the 25, 50, 75 & Max scale on my HM7000. I think they will be useful in quickly balancing the power to the two locos.
Cheers David
Only one of the cars is actually powered so you only need to run that one in
Good idea re the scaling
I am sure I am not the only one to be confused by Hornby describing it as ‘2 x Diesel Locomotive’!
@@Delphinus9 yeah… but… no… but… it is a pair of models of diesel locomotives and to be fair to them they do list only one powered in the technical spec. But I get what you mean.
Great video Chris it dose look impressive
Cheers Ian
Great video, thanks. At the risk of sounding stupid (I am a newbie), what do you mean when you say each drive unit needs to be operated separately? I get that you need to switch the lights and sound on for each unit but when it comes to driving them do you give speed and direction instructions to one or both units?
When using the app only, you have give all instructions separately. If you look at what I’m doing in the running session, you’ll see I swap from the power car to the dummy and back again
I have a TT 08 shunter, wish that had lights.
Get in touch with Richard @thiswayworks
Many thanks
Hello again Chris just wondering if by any chance you would know the size of the screws used for Hornby surface mounted points 00 gauge got wrong ones to fat hope I’m not being a pain thank you
Sorry Ian, I got rid of all mine.
Hornby needs to sync both units together. Apple do it with HomePods for stereo pair.
Absolutely, the technology is there that’s for sure. Fingers crossed we get an update in April.
Amazing model 😍 Great video, thanks
My pleasure 😀
Hi Chris, what's your thought on the name plates that you get in the bag of accessories, ive just received my hst and the name plates alot bigger than the printed name plates on the model, are they meant to be applied? I'm worried they will look good big .
Yeah I agree, even if they were the same size, I think the material is too thick. I’m leaving mine in the box
@PeachyTT120 cheers Chris. I will be doing the same. I offered the name plate up to the model and it doesn't look right. Did you notice the yellow banana livery is now in stock? I'm really impressed with the HST, a good weight to it and fantastic detail.
@@davidrigby7984 yeah just got the pre-order payment update email
@PeachyTT120 can I ask if it is possible to run the hst with only 1 decoder in the power car temporarily and if I would have to remove the blanking chip from the dummy car?
@@davidrigby7984 yes you can operate with one decoder. Leave the blank in the dummy. The tails will be red or white depending on which way around you place the dummy car on the track. And I think are always on as the current is permanent
Just ordered my yellow banana can’t wait
They’re are lovely
excellent! Just ordered mine....
You won’t be disappointed
Hi Chris,
The reason for the changable headlights is, on the real railway, day running you use the right headlight & at night the left. Was very annoyed at Hornby about the plug for the speaker, as they don't offer them as a stand alone item, meaning you are forced to buy HM7000 decoders. I prefer either ESU or Zimo for sound. Trying to remove the plugs & solder direct to them fails to work. I have now had to ask Hornby for 2 replacement boards & hopefully 2 speakers. Great loco but not impressed about the HM7000 speakers only!
Ah I knew it was something like that, just couldn’t remember exactly. Cheers
Btw someone found those plugs on eBay I’m sure, but posted it on facebook somewhere, now I can’t find it.
There are pads on the decoders to solder the speaker wires to..
@@GaryChilds-x5u yes I’ve seen Richard @thiswayworks use them
@@GaryChilds-x5u On Zimo MS Next18 decoders there are no seperate solder pads for a speaker. I have checked. I'm rechecking the ESU now.
Sorry, I assumed you were trying to connect a non Hornby speaker to the Hm7000 decoder. I now assume you are trying to connect the speaker to the PCB in the loco, not to the decoder it self.
Hi Chris, just wondering if you've had any running issues with your HST? mine attempts to set off and then stops, I was hoping it was down to the track cleanliness but seems to be still doing it, once it's going its ok its just the initial setting off, the sound stops and it comes to a halt. if you give it a little hand it sets off fine, currently pulling 3 coaches plus power cars.
I’ve had no problems. Sorry to hear you are.
Are you running as DC or HM7000?
@PeachyTT120 hm7000, if you give it abit of a hand it sets of fine, im waiting for the power banks to come in to stock maybe that will make a difference, or maybe a little weight, I'll have a play around with it, all my other locos are running fine on the same track.
@@davidrigby7984 DCC concepts now have some other brand HM7000 compatible power banks in stock
@@PeachyTT120 thanks, will they plug straight into the hm7000 decoder?
@@davidrigby7984 absolutely. I’ve bought 4 for my two HST trains.
Great video, thank you!
Cheers 🍻
thanks again Chris.
My pleasure
An issue to my eye, is the fact the power cars appear higher than the coaches meaning the livery doesn’t line up. Looking at one of your running clips it looks like the thickness of the red stripe. It appears an issue with the blue grey sets too where the grey band also appears to be bigger on the power cars than the coaches
I hadn’t noticed that. I’ll take another look
Great review. 👍
Cheers 🍻
Amazing and I will now go and order it if any are in stock but really good video 👍🏻
Should be some still in stock, see the links the description
Fantastic !
Cheers Rick 🍻
Good video there ! Envious too
Cheers Mike
Chris did you get your pre order for the Mk3s split up into single orders? I originally put the order through for the rake of 8 as one single order but Hornby split it up into single units. So far I've received one coach - the TRFB which arrived yesterday and according to an email from the postal courier I'm due another item today. In some ways I can understand why Hornby do this for pre orders but it seems a bit silly and wasteful boxing and sending out items individually. Then of course because the items individually cost under £50 you have multiple postage charges to pay which amounts to over £30 for the complete rake. And yes I've checked and I have been charged the £3.50 rate for each item. I may drop Hornby an email and request a refund on postage because that's just not right. If I'd not done a pre order and waited for them to come into stock this wouldn't have happened as was the case with the Pullmans. Did this happen to you? Were they all packed separately? Great informative video.
Actually postage was £3.95 for each item. Just checked.
It’s happened to everyone since the start. Hornby have a contract with a distribution/packing firm “GFM” I don’t think they can do much about it until the contract is up for renewal. It’s not good and they know it.
They’ve refunded me when I’ve shown that sometimes the order gets packed in one go,so they can claim against GFM but I’ve not had individual orders that have arrived in single packs refunded, but certainly give it a go.
@@PeachyTT120 Well I have proof that the multiple payments were taken out of my account on the 1st March and also multiple emails from Hornby/logistics stating the items are ready for dispatch on that date. Its all a bit mad. Be interesting to see if I receive just one item each day! Thats probably how they will get out of refunding me postage! It is crazy! I had a look through the Hornby forums to see if I could find any mention of it but they seem to have changed the format for my devices which makes it more difficult to search.
@@robelvery we were all talking about it some 9 months ago but I think a lot of the threads got locked because it was just going around and around.
Basically if you pre-order, expect to pay p&p per item however/whenever you ordered. With refunds only normally given if multiple item turn up in one box.
Yes it’s crap 🤷🏻♂️
@@PeachyTT120 Oh well in future if an individual item is under £50 I won't be pre ordering from Hornby! Don't get me wrong I'm not a Hornby hater far from it but its situations like this the company shoots themselves in the foot!
Why a decoder in the dummy car. 18 pins @ £70 seems a lot.
Hello Peter, unfortunately the Hornby designers have chosen to use standard coupling between the coaches rather than an electrical connection (like in PIKO’s ICE3) so if you want sound and controllable lights you need a separate sound decoder. You could use the cheaper non-sound 18pin HM7000 decoder to just control the lights, or simply leave the blanking plate in and accept that the dummy car lights are on but not switchable.
A decoder for both units.
Peter, is that a statement or a question? 😀
@@PeachyTT120 I have purchased a 18 pin H7000 decoder for mine. So I now need a second one for the dummy car just to operate the lights and direct. That’s what I was asking. £70 for another decoder.
@@peteralbertthomas yes that’s correct, you can of course operate the train with one decoder only, but you won’t have any sound or controllable lights at the back.
If I hadn’t bought a job lot of decoders at £45 each from Hattons, then I think I would’ve gone for the fitted version as that works out cheaper (than buying the DCC ready version and buying 2 decoders at £140)
Day lights and night lights
Hi Chris. What an idiot (I am)! It's only just dawned on me that the set contains NO carriages - and the sets (I went with the original(?) yellow and blue livery) are not exactly cheap (I chose the sound-fitted option). I must say I'm a little disappointed that the consist technique is not a little more simple than you described. I ordered my set from Rails of Sheffield and it has yet to arrive. All I have to do now is do a little street walking (not easy at almost 68 years of age) before I can afford the coaches!
I’m hoping they sort the consist stuff soon.
In answer to your question the livery was known as intercity swallow (not swift)
Great